DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A FRAMEWORK OF LENGTHS OF TIMBER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device acceding to the preamble to appealed Claim 1.

[0002] Within the industry for the production of timber houses, e.g. prefabricated houses, and houses constructed from both timber and other materials, it is of major importance to be able to assemble frameworks, e.g. roof trusses, in as rapid and rational a manner as possible without jeopardising accuracy and reliability. It is further of importance that the positioning of the lengths of timber which have been pre-cut and otherwise pre-treated and which are included in the framework can be carried out rapidly and simply without any major risk of incorrect positioning. The lengths of timber put out in position are provisionally fixed to one another by means, for example, of fasteners with the aid of a fastener gun or the like in order to make possible movement of the framework for the final securing of the lengths of timber to one another at each joint by means of so-called nail plate joints that can be adapted to the different joints between the lengths of timber. There is thus a major need in the art for a device for rational handling of the nail plates and pressing into position of the correct nail plate across the joints intended therefore. Such device are disclosed in US 2006/011074 A1, US-A- 4 754910 and GB-A-1271678 and have many disadvantages.

[0003] The task forming the basis of the present invention is to eleminate the disadvantages with mentioned devices.

[0004] This task is solved according to the present invention by means of the device disclosed by way of introduction, in that this has been given the characterising features as set forth in appended Claim 1.

[0005] The present invention realises a device or an installation for the rational and particularly rapid and effective construction of such frameworks as roof trusses and the like. In particular, the handling of the nail plates is greatly facilitated for assembling the different lengths of timber in that they are easy to lay in the correct position without the risk of error. The present invention further considerably facilitates the logistics surrounding the device, and in particutar the handling of the nail plates for placing them out on the contemplated framework. This particularly applies to the selection of the correct nail plate for its intended joint in a rapid and reliable manner.

[0006] The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with reference to the accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1 is a view of a part of one embodiment of a device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a number of magazine-, and collection and orientation devices for the device according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a view of parts of the device according to one embodiment of the present invention located at a collection position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view from beneath of a part of the device according to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a view of a part of the orientation devices for the device according to the present invention. Fig. 6 is a view from beneath of the parts illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the device illustrated in Fig. 6.

[0007] A device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow in connection with the assembly of roof trusses. Fig. 1 shows a roof truss 2 which is on its way through a portal 3, a part of the roof truss 2 being located on an infeed table 4 and a part of the roof truss 2 which has passed through the portal 3 being located on a discharge table 5. In other words, the roof truss 2 is provisionally assembled from lengths of timber and consists of two upper frame sections 8 and 9, and a lower frame section 10, as well as braces or struts, or diagonals 11.

[0008] The portal 3 includes a number of upper beams 22, 23 and a number of lower beams 24, 25 which are interconnected to one another with the aid of end walls 26 and 27. In the portal 3, there is provided a press tool comprising an upper carriage 28 and a lower carriage 29. The carriages 28 and 29 each support a press plate 30 and 31, as well as a number of runner wheels 32 and 33 for moving the carriages 28, 29 along the beams 22, 23, 24 and 25. The end walls 26, 27 are centrally open so as to permit access to the carriages 28, 29 and the press plates 30, 31. Fig. 4 shows a press tool carriage 28 with a press plate 30. The runner wheels 33 of the carriage 28 are clearly apparent in Fig. 4. The press tool carriages 28 and 29 each support a piston and cylinder assembly 34 for switching the press plates 30 and 31 towards one another and thereby to and away from the joints in the framework 2. The press plates 30 and 31 each support a magnet or magnets 35 each for fixedly retaining a nail plate 38 during transport of the nail plate from a collection position at the end wall 26, 27 and to the desired joint where the plates 38 are to be fixedly pressed over the joint.

[0009] At the collection position at the end walls 26, 27, there are provided a number of nail plate magazines 36 which contain nail plates 38 disposed pairwise with the nail sides facing towards one another. By means of a piston and cylinder assembly, a loading plate 39 is switchable under each nail plate magazine 36 for projecting a nail plate pair 38 out from the magazine 36. As is apparent from Fig. 2, the nail plate magazines 36 are disposed beside one another so that a pair of collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B are movable in front of the nail plate magazines 36 for receiving a nail plate pair 38. The collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B are reciprocally movable in relation to one another and to a nail plate pair 38 placed between them by means of a piston and cylinder assembly 37C. It is also possible to have the one disk fixed in the vertical direction, but rotary, while the other is switchable by means of the piston and cylinder assembly 37C. The disks 37A and 37B are further rotary by means of a motor 37D via an upper toothed belt and a lower toothed belt as well as drive means and an interconnecting shaft 37F which is driven by means of the motor. The nail plate pair 38 is grasped by means of grippers 40 displaceable on the disks 37A and 37B towards the nail plate pair 38. The grippers 40 on the upper disk 37A are disposed to grasp the upper nail plate in the pair of nail plates 38, while the grippers 40 on the other disk 37B are disposed to grasp the upper nail plate in the pair of nail plates 38. This is facilitated in that the front edge of the grippers 40 is slanted and does not affect more than one of the nail plates in the pair of nail plates 38. The grippers 40 are reciprocal in relation to one another and the nail plate pair 38 by means of devices disposed on the underside of the disk 37B. Similar devices are mounted on the upper side of the disk 37A. On separation of the collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B from one another, the nail plate pair 38 is separated. After the separation of the nail plate pair 38, the collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B may be pivoted or rotated to the desired position. Fig. 5 illustrates that the collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B are mounted on a carriage 41 which is displaceable in front of the magazine 36 to an end position at the end walls 26, 22. At the end position according to Fig. 6, the press tool with the press plates 30 and 31 is in the collection position, in which transfer devices 42, which are illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 3, are disposed to collect the nail plates 38 from the collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B and move them to the press tool disks 31 and 31 where they are grasped by the magnets 35. The magnets 35 may be permanent magnets.

[0010] The transfer devices 42 comprise a piston and cylinder assembly 43 for switching of an arm 44 which is displaceable on a rail 45 and which supports a number of electromagnets 46 on its upper side and a number of electromagnets 47 on its under side, which support a nail plate 38 with the nail plate facing towards the magnets 47. The magnets 46 also support a nail plate 38 (not shown in Fig. 3) with the nail side facing towards the magnets 46. When the arm 44 is located between the press tool disks 30 and 31, the magnets 46 and 47 with the nail plates are moved apart from one another by means of pistons 48 and 49 for placing the nail plates on the permanent magnets 35 when the electromagnets 46 and 47 release the nail plates 38. The press tool disks 30 and 31 move the nail plates 38 to the desired joint and press them fast in position over the joint in the roof truss.

[0011] It is naturally possible to drive the device according to the present invention in an extremely rational manner by adjustment or positioning of the different parts being carried out with the aid of one or more computers and suitable software which permits the ordering of a roof truss. The collection- and orientation disks 37A and 37B are caused to collect the nail plates 38 in that sequence which is required for the selected roof truss. The collected nail plates 38 are transferred to the press tool carriages 28 and 29 for placing across and fixedly pressing over selected joints in the roof truss. This is repeated until all joints have been provided with nail plates.

[0012] Many modifications are naturally possible without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as this is defined in the appended Claims.

Claims

1. A device for connecting a framework (6) of lengths of timber (8-11), e.g. roof trusses, comprising a number of upper (8, 9) and lower 10) frame sections, as well as a number of diagonals or struts (10), etc., in which at least one press tool (28-31) is disposed to fixedly press at 1east one nail plate (38) over joints between the lengths of timber (8,11), and that the press tool(s) (28-31) is/are disposed in a portal (3) with a number of upper beams (22, 23) and a number of lower beams (24, 25) on which the press tool(s) (28-31) is/are adjustable reciprocally across the framework (6) between a position in which the press tool (28-31) collects a pair of nail plates (38), and a position over a joiut for fixedly pressing one of the nail plates on the upper side and the other on the under side of the joint, characterised in that a number of magazines (36) with nail plates (38) are disposed at the collection position , in that means (37A, 37B) are provide at the collection position for receiving a pair of nail plates (38) from the magazine (36) and orienting the nail plates (38) to that position in which they are to be fixedly pressed over the joint by means of the press tool (28-31), and in that _··· claim 6.

2. The device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the press tool(s) (28-31) has/have an upper press plate (30) and an upper carriage (28), and a lower press plate (31) and a lower carriage (29), and that the press plates (30,31) have a number of magnets (35) for fixedly holding the nail plates (38) from the collection position to the fixed pressing of the upper joint.

3. The device as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that a plurality of magazines (36) with nail plates (38) are disposed at the collection position for transferring nail plates (38) of dimensions adapted to the joint to the orientation devices (37A, 37B).

4. The device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a collection position is provided at each end of the portal which is intended for two press tools (28-31) with the capability of fixedly pressing nail plates (38) over eachjoint on a framework (6), and that the nail plate magazines (36) and the orientation devices (37A, 37B) are disposed at each collection position. The orientation devices (37A, 37B) are disposed to collect a pair of nail plates (38) from a nail plate magazine (36) and to orient the nail plates (38) and separate the nail plates (38) from one another before transferring to the press tool(s) (28-31).

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Verbinden eines Rahmens (6) aus Holzlängen (8-11), beispielsweise von Dachstühlen, umfassend eine Anzahl von oberen (8, 9) und unteren (10) Rahmenabschnitten sowie eine Anzahl von Diagonalen oder Streben (10) usw., wobei mindestens ein Presswerkzeug (28-31) angeordnet ist, um mindestens eine Nagelplatte (38) fest über Verbindungsstellen zwischen den Holzlängen (8, 11) zu pressen, und wobei das(die) Presswerkzeug(e) (28-31) in einem Portal (3) mit einer Anzahl von oberen Balken (22, 23) und einer Anzahl von unteren Balken (24, 25) angeordnet ist(sind), woran das(die) Presswerkzeug(e) (28-31) über den Rahmen (6) zwischen einer Position, in der das Presswerkzeug (28-31) ein Paar von Nagelplatten (38) aufnimmt, und einer Position über einer Verbindungsstelle zum festen Pressen einer der Nagelplatten auf die obere Seite und der anderen auf die untere Seite der Verbindungsstelle hin- und hergehend einstellbar ist(sind), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Anzahl von Magazinen (36) mit Nagelplatten (38) an der Aufnahmeposition angeordnet sind, dass Mittel (37A, 37B) an der Aufnahmeposition zum Entgegennehmen eines Paares von Nagelplatten (38) von dem Magazin (36) und zum Ausrichten der Nagelplatten (38) in jene Position, in der sie mittels des Presswerkzeugs (28-31) fest über die Verbindungsstelle gepresst werden sollen, bereitgestellt sind und dass die Ausrichtungsvorrichtungen (37A, 37B) angeordnet sind, um ein Paar von Nagelplatten (38) aus einem Nagelplattenmagazin (36) aufzunehmen und die Nagelplatten (38) auszurichten und die Nagelplatten (38) vor der Übergabe an das(die) Presswerkzeug(e) (28-31) voneinander zu trennen.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das(die) Presswerkzeug(e) (28-31) eine obere Pressplatte (30) und einen oberen Schlitten (28) und eine untere Pressplatte (31) und einen unteren Schlitten (29) aufweist(aufweisen) und dass die Pressplatten (30, 31) eine Anzahl von Magneten (35) zum Festhalten der Nagelplatten (38) von der Aufnahmeposition bis zu dem festen Pressen der oberen Verbindungsstelle aufweisen.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Vielzahl von Magazinen (36) mit Nagelplatten (38) an der Aufnahmeposition angeordnet sind, zum Übergeben von Nagelplatten (38) mit Abmessungen, die auf die Verbindungsstelle abgestimmt sind, an die Ausrichtvorrichtungen (37A, 37B).

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an jedem Ende des Portals eine Aufnahmeposition vorgesehen ist, welche für zwei Presswerkzeuge (28-31) mit der Fähigkeit, Nagelplatten (38) fest über jede Verbindungsstelle eines Rahmens (6) zu pressen, bestimmt ist, und dass die Nagelplattenmagazine (36) und die Ausrichtvorrichtungen (37A, 37B) an jeder Aufnahmeposition angeordnet sind.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de raccordement d'une ossature (6) de longueurs de bois d'oeuvre (8-11), par exemple des charpentes de combles, comprenant un certain nombre de sections d'ossature supérieure (8, 9) et inférieure (10) ainsi qu'un certain nombre de diagonales ou d'étais (10), etc., dans lequel au moins un outil de presse (28, 31) est disposé pour presser de manière fixe au moins une plaque à clous sur des joints entre les longueurs de bois d'oeuvre (8, 11) et le ou les outils de presse (28-31) est ou sont disposés dans un portique (3) avec un certain nombre de poutres supérieures (22, 23) et un certain nombre de poutres inférieures (24, 25), sur lesquelles le ou les outils de presse (28, 31) est ou sont mutuellement ajustables en travers de l'ossature (6) entre une position, dans laquelle l'outil de presse (28, 31) recueille une paire de plaques à clous (38) et une position sur un joint pour presser de manière fixe l'une des plaques à clous sur le côté supérieur et l'autre sur le côté inférieur du joint, caractérisé en ce qu'un certain nombre de magasins (36) avec des plaques à clous (38) sont disposés dans la position de collecte, en ce que des moyens (37A, 37B) sont disposés dans la position de collecte pour recevoir une paire de plaques à clous (38) du magasin (36) et orienter les plaques à clous (38) dans la position où elles doivent être pressées de manière fixe sur le joint au moyen de l'outil de presse (28, 31), et les dispositifs d'orientation (37A, 37B) sont disposés pour recueillir une paire de plaques à clous (38) d'un magasin de plaques à clous (36) et pour orienter les plaques à clous (38) et séparer les plaques à clous (38) l'une de l'autre avant de les transférer à l'outil ou aux outils de presse (28-31) .

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le ou les outils de presse (28-31) a ou ont une plaque de presse supérieure (30) et un chariot supérieur (28) et une plaque de presse inférieure (31) et un chariot inférieur (29), et les plaques de presse (30, 31) ont un certain nombre d'aimants (35) pour maintenir de manière fixe les plaques à clous (38) de la position de collecte au pressage fixe du joint supérieur.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une pluralité de magasins (36) avec des plaques à clous (38) sont disposés en position de collecte pour transférer des plaques à clous (38) de dimensions adaptées au joint aux dispositifs d'orientation (37A, 37B).

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une position de collecte est prévue à chaque extrémité du portique, qui est destinée à deux outils de presse (28-31) avec la capacité de presser de manière fixe des plaques à clous (38) sur chaque joint d'une ossature (6) et en ce que les magasins de plaques à clous (36) et les dispositifs d'orientation (37A, 37B) sont disposés dans chaque position de collecte.

Drawing